wow, thanks to everyone who responded so quickly...

The hone is brand new, so i have not flattened it...carbon full hollow razor

I guess before i attempt to try and use all this new information i have this question:


DOES IT MATTER?? if i have been getting a great shave and havent had any dragging or cuts or any problems whatsoever, does adapting the 'correct' method really matter in my specific case? can i continue to grind the razor....i am in fact using the 4000 when i 'grind'...

"Grinding" : using excessive force on the razor, pushing it downwards...i make sure that the razor is uniformly touching the stone, i do so by: my right hand pulling the razor forwards while my left is 'on top' pushing downwards ensuring it is all moving against the stone...a slurry usually develops after 4 passes...i clean the stone and razor...continue 'honing'...i can really feel the serrations developing...i arbitraily stop after 20-40 passes...move to 8K...strop...shave...


will this simply damage my razor in the long run? this isnt the nicest razor and i plan on purchasing a much nicer one in the future so perhaps the fact that i should preserve the 'razor to come' is the only reason i should change the way i am doing things now....

Based on all the video, it seems to me that the people 'gently brush / glide" the razor over the hone and here i am practically sweating with the amount of force im moving the razor with...